ALBION's defeat at Wembley was pretty much a snap-shot of their season - plenty of promise and ability, followed by the odd loss of focus, resulting in ultimate despair and frustration.

ALBION's defeat at Wembley was pretty much a snap-shot of their season - plenty of promise and ability, followed by the odd loss of focus, resulting in ultimate despair and frustration.

The Baggies' fans don't know whether to laugh or cry, be positive about the future or fearful of what awaits.

Tony Mowbray's arrival was met with the usual cliches about him being the 'luckiest' manager in football.

He was far from that. Expecting a manager to oversee massive change in his first campaign is a bit like asking a golfer to finish off a game using somebody else's clubs - it may happen but don't expect him to feel comfortable with it. In any case, promotion next season, not this, was his minimum requirement.

Before that, Bryan Robson brought in Kevin Phillips, Curtis Davies, Diomansy Kamara and Paul McShane. Each one a risk in some respect but each one to be considered a success story.

Even so, Albion had a very cosy look about them during Robson's brief spell in charge this season. The image of Nigel Pearson laughing in the dug-out at the Stadium of Light while Robson mouthed "well done" to under-performing players as they came off the field in that awful defeat was, pretty much, the final straw for chairman Jeremy Peace.

The Jason Koumas saga also did little for anyone's reputation. It was a sorry episode which took focus away from the matter of trying to win promotion.

A late return to pre-season - Albion came back at least a week after most, in some cases a fortnight later - meant they often wilted towards the end of games.

Not all of Robson's signings worked. Pascal Zuberbuhler might have been the 'second best' keeper at the World Cup but he was more 'Zuber-howler' at The Hawthorns following a series of spills.

John Hartson was arguably the biggest disappointment of the season, spending more time on the box as a pundit than in the opposition's box scoring goals - despite his and the club's best efforts to get him fit.

Mowbray had other problems to contend with. While the likes of Paul Robinson, McShane, Phillips, Davies and, latterly, Robert Koren always showed full application, the same couldn't be said about some of their team-mates, a few of whom considered themselves Premiership players-in-waiting.

The fact that so many openly spoke about leaving for the top flight after losing at Wembley, while fans were still filtering out of the stadium, left a bad taste and underlined the prevalent attitude among some at the club.

Zoltan Gera wasn't the same player after taking a rough challenge in Albion's opening game against Hull and didn't start performing again until Wembley came within sight.

Kamara - as vital as his 23-goal contribution was - deteriorated as the speculation over his future intensified, while Nathan Ellington struggled to maintain any form or consistency. Bizarrely, Martin Albrechtsen, hardly a regular under Mowbray, was even touting himself for a Premiership move on the eve of Albion's crucial play-off semi-final against Wolves.

On the flip side, Phillips was an inspiration, dovetailing intelligence with industry. And he scored 22 goals, which isn't bad going for a 33-year-old who needs occasional days off.

Koumas too, although at times sporadic, was a vital performer and the provider of so many goals. Jon Greening was Albion's Steady Eddie, rarely standing out as a star man but likewise never letting himself or the team down.

Off the field, the January transfer window was another anti-climax. While Derby brought in seven players, Mowbray welcomed two Bosman free transfers, Dean Kiely and Koren, and loan signing Sherjill MacDonald. Otherwise it was uneventful.

Nigel Quashie left to spread his miserable vibes around West Ham's dressing room, with Albion missing out on Hibs duo Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown. The Baggies can't be blamed for losing out on the duo - they were within a signature away of capturing them on the day of the Luton game, only for Hibs to pull the plug.

The future is now mapped out. Win or lose at Wembley, Mowbray always hinted at a clear-out. Chris Perry has gone, others will follow.

It's not necessarily a bad thing.

Mowbray has made it clear in the past that he favours ability, energy, athleticism and youth - those in the spring of their careers. He wants a balance to his side (soldiers and artists he calls them) so there's every chance his side will have a meaner look about them next season.

The Albion of 2007/08 is likely to have a fresher, more energetic look about it. If Mowbray gets the blend right, another promotion push could be on the cards.

RATING : Grade C.

BEST PLAYER : Kevin Phillips has been the intelligence behind Albion's attacking play. Not only did he score a fifth of their goals but his link-up play, work-rate and ability to read the game put him ahead of Koumas and Kamara.

GOAL OF THE SEASON : Diomansy Kamara's curler at Leeds just about beats Koren's against Barnsley, Ellington's against Cardiff and Phillips' first in the Molineux play-off win.

BEST MATCH : The 3-2 win in the play-off semi-final will live on in Albion folklore.

FAVOURITE QUOTE : "When you have young children you switch off naturally. When you have a two-and-half-year-old clinging to your leg, telling you he wants to feed the ducks then your focus changes.

"As soon as I open the door a little tornado runs at me, I pick him up and play with him so football goes out my head. Then he goes to bed and I start thinking about football again. I like to be professional but I'm the same as everyone else when I'm with the people I love." Tony Mowbray

ONE TO WATCH : Sherjill MacDonald. Tony Mowbray rates him very highly but so far the striker, on loan until January, has only been used as a substitute. Could get a bigger role next season.